While exploring the era’s wonderful history, something fashionable became clear: the sweater that started a revolution in knitwear (while starting a revolution in the voting booths around the globe), the first widely-worn sweater of the 20th century!

Here you see Sylvia Pankhurst and, I believe, her sister Christabel, being arrested while demonstrating for the Vote, England, circa 1905.

But notice what the ladies are wearing – something that looks really modern, something you can still find in 2013, over a hundred years later, fresh as ever.

A Jersey V-Neck Cardigan.

But look closely.

These suffragette’s are wearing men’s cardigans!

Because, you see, up until this time, women didn’t wear Sweaters.

They wore cloaks, coats, shawls and wraps, looking more like this

than this

But as women ventured into the public realm more and more, the clothes they were wearing became less about silhouettes, embelishments or ornament

I love this story! You’re right that one could wear that same sweater today. In fact, I’m going to be knitting “Hey Girl’ as soon as I find the right yarn so I WILL be wearing it soon. Thanks for this fashion history lesson.